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Ace
Yonamine: Hawaii's Biggest Film Star!
 Sumo
may not have been in the cards for Ace Yonamine, but he's certainly found
his niche in the movies
 By
Carol Chang MidWeek Magazine
Ace
Yonamine is finding that bigger is better when it comes to show business.
The 27-year-old giant from Kaneohe just finished filming a Warner Brothers
football comedy starring Keanu Reeves as the quarterback, Gene Hackman as
the coach...and Yonamine as an offisive tackle called "Fumiko."
"I'm on the strike team for the Washington Redskins with a couple of
black bodyguards, a bar owner, and an ex-college quarterback. We're
supposed to be all washed up," he says of The Replacements,
now in post production and slated for early summer release.
He joined the fictitious, rag-tag team -- comprised of scab players during
the NFL strike -- just days before shooting started in downtown Baltimore
last July.
"Even if it bombs, I wouldn't care," he adds. "It was all
worthwhile. This was my big break. After nine years of auditioning, I was
ready to give up. I had so much opportunities where I wasn't chosen. It
seemed like I was just going through the motions."
 Yonamine
set his sights on acting shortly after his 1990 high school graduation and
a brief stint as a professional sumo wrestler in Japan. His training in
Jesse Kuhaulua's stable was cut short when blood tests detected diabetes.
Though Hollywood inadvertently gave him a woman's name in The
Replacements, the 6-foot, 305-pound former Castle High lineman is
hardly dainty. Even back then, he wore a white NFL helmet because his
broad skull didn't fit the Knight's headgear. "They
were looking for a big Asian with sumo experience, and I was like laughing
to myself: 'This is just me!' I don't have to act -- it's my normal,
everyday life," recalls Yonamine. "I thought my pidgin would be
a problem, too. But no, they said I had a perfect, unique voice."
In fact, he hit it off so well with teammate Faizon Love (Friday, The
Parenthood,), that writers reworked scenes, expanding his role to a
supporting actor.
A cafeteria food fight and a bar brawl were lots of fun. Kicking back with
Reeves and Hackman was cool. Signing autographs was a real trip. And he
didn't mind the pretty women either.
Still, for a kid from Hawaii with no acting lessons, Yonamine says his
scene with The Coach was scary. "I was so nervous and starstruck with
Mr. Hackman. My tongue was like all twisted up. But he gave me advice and
he was very nice. He even complimented me and said I'd better move to L.A.
when the picture comes out because I'll be very busy."
It wasn't heaven everyday, however. The team often put on full pads for
filming inside PSInet Stadium, home of the NFL Baltimore Ravens. From a
110-degree drought in July to the chilly mid-30s in October, the action
rolled on -- for up to 16 hours a day. Once Fumiko went to the ER with
heat stroke and dehydration.
"I also got kind of banged up, because I did most of my own scenes.
They needed to zoom in on my face." Some teammates were ex-pro
players who came straight from filming Any Given Sunday to the
Baltimore set. "They were huge and in shape," he recalls, still
in awe.
His stunt double was a former Kahuku High and Oregon State lineman Johnny
Feinga, "It was kind of good to have someone from Hawaii to relate to
me," he adds. Not
so intimidating was the team's tall, skinny kicker, actor Rhys Ifans (Hugh
Grant's gross roommate in Notting Hill). Brooke Langton (whose
character died on Melrose Place) played Reeve's cheerleader
girlfriend.
Other new friends include Michael "Bear" Taliferro (Life),
Orlando Jones (Madd TV, 7-Up), Jon Favreau (Deep Impact, Rudy)
and director Howie Deutch (Odd Couple II, Grumpier Old Men.)
Right now Yonamine is between films, as they say in the trade, but still
relishing in his luch and, oh yes, a "six-figure" paycheck for
three months of work. He says the money allows him to stay home for now
and help his parents, Leonard and Kay. Younger sister, Joy, works nearby
at Foodland.
"Lately I've been lucky. But let's just say I'm still a struggling
actor waiting for a seve-figure role," Yonamine says, grinning in a
way that pushes up his cherubic cheeks, forcing his gentle eyes to sink
into his massive face.
His personal manager, John Jacques of the Oahu Sumo Club got him the job
that will brighten up a resume of convention appearances and modeling
shots as a sumotori. He also works with the ADR talent agency and played a
yokozuna on One West Waikiki. "Ace is one of our more popular
actors," Jacques says. "We're hoping that his star shines even
brighter now." The
above article and pictures were taken from the
MidWeek Magazine.
Vol. 16, No. 26 January 19, 2000
The above pictures & article may be copyrights of Ace
Yonamine or MidWeek Magazine. I have posted it for classmates info
only.
Please comply with Ace or MidWeek Magazine's
Assistant Publisher, Ron Nagasawa,
for usage
of pictures, etc...
This site created by: Deanne (Kanamu) Ranis
CHS1990@aol.com
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